New skills and lofty thrills

Try the basics of Stand-up Paddle Boarding – the UK’s fastest growing water sport – on a mini-adventure paddling around Bristol’s Floating Harbour. You’ll learn a new skill while seeing the sights of the historic maritime city from a unique perspective on the water. Taster sessions last an hour and a half and the more extensive Harbourside Adventure lasts two and half hours.

Step into the shoes of a Victorian sailor and climb the rigging on the SS Great Britain to get a bird’s eye view of the city from 25 metres up. Brave souls can edge out onto the ship’s main yard for an even better view. This iconic passenger steamship was built in 1843 by the great engineer Isambard Brunel whose life and work is celebrated in a companion museum, Being Brunel.

Mould-breaking Bristol doesn’t do generic and that applies to its cocktail bar scene too. There are a number of elegant speakeasies to seek out, conjuring a sense of escapism to another time. Head to Milk Thistle, one of the city’s most famous speakeasies, or venture slightly out of the city centre to Clifton Village for show-stopping cocktails inspired by British locations at Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

Enjoy a quirky stay in Bristol on the Kyle Blue – a ‘poshtel’ on a converted Dutch barge moored at Wapping Wharf – Bristol’s new hip harbourside hangout. Wake up on the water knowing you’re only five minutes’ walk from the city centre and SS Great Britain. Choose from shared or private cabins and a communal on-deck lounge where you can watch the world float by.

Take to the streets

Join a street art tour to discover striking subversive street art in Banksy’s home turf. The guided tour takes in some of Banksy’s most famous works alongside an ever-changing array of humourous and rebellious murals that have earned Bristol its reputation as the street art capital of Europe. After the two-hour tour, find your inner graffiti artist with a stencil air spray workshop.

The city’s go-to bike hire outfit, Cycle the City has teamed up with the Bristol Food Tour for a four-mile, culinary experience on two wheels. The route follows scenic car-free paths and waterways, with frequent stops to sample some of Bristol’s finest food, including artisan cheeses and award-winning pies.

Dip into shipping containers filled with independent eateries, cafes, bars and shops at this bustling spot on the waterside. Chomp your way through exciting dining experiences, from seasonal British cooking to authentic Mexican tacos and aromatic curries.